Underwater Archaeology and the Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley.

Underwater archaeology is an interface between science and history. Materials recovered from archaeological sites are more than just ancient artifacts and objects; they are sets of data that can help us answer many questions about the evolution and development of human culture, technology, and the interaction of different peoples with each other and their environment. The study of archaeological occurrences from our more recent past enables archaeologists and historians to compare the written archival record with physical evidence left in the ground and under the sea. In the case of submerged sites, the assemblage of archaeological material can be more complete than that retained by sites above water. This is due to the fact that archaeological sites such as shipwrecks or sunken cities are often the result of a single catastrophic event rather than the gradual accumulation of discarded material such as daily refuse. Underwater archaeology is a rapidly developing specialization in the broader spectrum of archaeology; currently, work is being conducted in every ocean and major body of water off the coast of virtually every country. Inland waterways are also being studied. In the United States, for example, states that have do not have a coast possess rivers and lakes that contain submerged cultural materials. Underwater archaeology, more than any other sub-discipline of archaeology, is heavily dependent upon technology. Areas within underwater archaeology that employ the use of cutting-edge technological innovations include SCUBA diving, survey, mapping, and conservation.